Relative humidity sensor enclosed with formed heating element

Abstract

Sensor systems and methods are disclosed herein. A relative humidity sensor is generally associated one or more porous heating elements. A porous resistive material surrounds the relative humidity sensor. Additionally, one or more flat heating elements can be bonded to a base of the relative humidity sensor to conduct heat and insure uniform heating about the relative humidity sensor. The porous heating elements can be configured to permit humid air to pass through the porous heating elements. Also, the porous heating element(s) can be assembled slightly offset from a surface of the relative humidity sensor so that air that is saturated with water vapor passes through and is heated by the porous heating element in order to evaporate water droplets associated with the water vapor and thereby reduce relative humidity to a measurable level. The porous resistive material can be configured from a material such as, for example, tantalum or nichrome. The porous resistive material can also be configured in a sheet arranged in a woven pattern.

1 . A sensor system, comprising: 
 a relative humidity sensor associated with a porous heating element;    a porous resistive material surrounding said relative humidity sensor; and    wherein said porous heating element is configured to permit humid air to pass through said porous heating element and wherein said porous heating element is assembled slightly offset from a surface of said relative humidity sensor, wherein air that is saturated with water vapor passes through and is heated by said porous heating element in order to evaporate water droplets associated with said water vapor to thereby reduce relative humidity to a measurable level.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising; 
 a flat heating element bonded to a base of said relative humidity sensor to conduct heat and insure uniform heating about said relative humidity sensor.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said porous resistive material comprises tantalum.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said porous resistive material comprises nichrome.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said porous resistive material is configured in a sheet arranged in a woven pattern thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a filter material located slightly offset from said relative humidity sensor to create a thin space of stagnant air adjacent to said relative humidity sensor.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising a housing and a plurality of filters formed from said filter material, wherein said housing surrounds and protects said heating element and said relative humidity sensor.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said relative humidity sensor is located on a printed circuit board and is received by a probe comprising a temperature sensor for measuring ambient temperature.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said filter material comprises a hydrophobic material to limit the size of water droplets associated with said humid air from passing through said heating element.  
   
   
       10 . A sensor system, comprising: 
 a relative humidity sensor associated with a porous heating element;    a porous resistive material surrounding said relative humidity sensor;    a flat heating element bonded to a base of said relative humidity sensor to conduct heat and insure uniform heating about said relative humidity sensor; and    wherein said porous heating element is configured to permit humid air to pass through said porous heating element and wherein said porous heating element is assembled slightly offset from a surface of said relative humidity sensor, wherein air that is saturated with water vapor passes through and is heated by said porous heating element in order to evaporate water droplets associated with said water vapor to thereby reduce relative humidity to a measurable level.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said porous resistive material comprises tantalum.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said porous resistive material comprises nichrome.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said porous resistive material Is configured in a sheet arranged in a woven pattern thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a filter material located slightly offset from said relative humidity sensor to create a thin space or stagnant air adjacent to said relative humidity sensor, wherein said filter material comprises a hydrophobic material to limit the size of water droplets associated with said humid air from passing through said at least one heating element;    a housing and a plurality of filters formed from said filter material, wherein said housing surrounds and protects said at least one heating element and said relative humidity sensor; and    a printed circuit board upon which said relative humidity sensor is located and received by a probe comprising a temperature sensor for measuring ambient temperature.    
   
   
       15 . A sensor method, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a relative humidity sensor;    associating a porous heating element with said relative humidity sensor, wherein said porous heating element is assembled slightly offset from a surface of said relative humidity sensor;    surrounding said relative humidity sensor with a porous resistive material; and    configuring said porous heating element to permit humid air to pass through said porous heating element, wherein air that is saturated with water vapor passes through and is heated by said porous heating element in order to evaporate water droplets associated with said water vapor to thereby reduce a relative humidity to a measurable level.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of associating a printed circuit board with said relative humidity sensor upon which said relative humidity sensor is located and received by a probe comprising a temperature sensor for measuring ambient temperature.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of bonding a flat heating element to a base of said relative humidity sensor to conduct heat and insure uniform heating about said relative humidity sensor.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said porous resistive material comprises tantalum.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said porous resistive material comprises nichrome.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of configuring said porous resistive material in a sheet arranged in a woven pattern thereof.